Aerosol delivery device, an article for use therewith and a method of identifying an article

ABSTRACT

An article including an aerosolizable material; and a signal altering component, wherein the signal altering component is configured to alter a first signal transmitted at least partially through the article into a second signal indicative of article data.

PRIORITY CLAIM

The present application is a Continuation Application of U.S.application Ser. No. 15/733,694, filed on Sep. 29, 2020, which is aNational Phase entry of PCT Application No. PCT/EP2019/057781, filedMar. 27, 2019, which claims priority from GB Patent Application No.1805257.1, filed Mar. 29, 2018, each of which is hereby fullyincorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an aerosol delivery device, an articlefor use therewith, and a system and a method of identifying an article.

BACKGROUND

Articles such as cigarettes, cigars and the like burn tobacco during useto create tobacco smoke. Attempts have been made to provide alternativesto these articles, which burn tobacco, by creating products that releasecompounds without burning. Examples of such products are so- calledheat-not-burn products, also known as tobacco heating products ortobacco heating devices, which release compounds by heating, but notburning, the material. The material may be, for example, tobacco orother non-tobacco products or a combination, such as a blended mix,which may or may not contain nicotine.

SUMMARY

In accordance with some examples described herein, there is provided anaerosol delivery device comprising: a chamber for receiving an articlecomprising an aerosolizable material for delivery by the aerosoldelivery device, a transmitter, a receiver spaced apart from thetransmitter, and a processor, wherein the processor is configured to:cause the transmitter to transmit a first signal to the receiver atleast partially through an article in the chamber in use, so that thereceiver receives a second signal, wherein the second signal is thefirst signal altered by interaction with a signal altering component ofthe article, and determine article data from the second signal.

In accordance with some examples described herein, there is provided anarticle comprising: an aerosolizable material; and a signal alteringcomponent; wherein the signal altering component is configured to altera first signal transmitted at least partially through the article into asecond signal indicative of article data.

In accordance with some examples described herein, there is provided asystem comprising: an aerosol delivery device as describe above and anarticle as described above.

In accordance with some examples described herein, there is provided amethod of identifying an article in an aerosol delivery device, themethod comprising: transmitting a first signal at least partiallythrough an article from a transmitter to a receiver spaced from thetransmitter, receiving a second signal at the receiver, wherein thesecond signal is the first signal altered by interaction with a signalaltering component of the article, and determining article data from thesecond signal.

In an example, an aerosol delivery device may comprise: a chamber intowhich a consumable can be inserted, a field generator, a field receiverspaced from the field generator, and a processor, wherein the fieldgenerator is configured to generate a field across a portion of thereceptacle to the field receiver, and the processor is configured to:identify an alteration in the field at the field receptor in response toinsertion of a consumable into the receptacle, the consumable includinga field altering component; and determine which one of a plurality offield altering components the consumable includes based on theidentified alteration.

Further features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparentfrom the following description of embodiments of the disclosure, givenby way of example only, which is made with reference to the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an aerosol delivery deviceaccording to an example.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic internal side view of the aerosol deliverydevice of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 shows a functional block diagram of an aerosol delivery deviceaccording to an example.

FIG. 4 shows a flow chart of a method of identifying an article of anaerosol delivery device according to an example.

FIG. 5 shows a flow chart of a method of identifying an article of anaerosol delivery device according to an example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1 , a schematic perspective view of an example aerosoldelivery device 100 is shown. The aerosol delivery device 100 isarranged to volatilize at least one component of aerosolizable material.

The aerosol delivery device 100 has a housing 180 and a receptacle 110,such as a chamber, cavity, or holder.

The receptacle 110 receives a consumable 200, such as an articlecomprising an aerosol generating material (aerosolizable material) fromwhich an aerosol may be generated, e.g., through the application of heatto the aerosolizable material. The consumable 200 may be an articlecomprising an aerosol generating material for delivery by the aerosoldelivery device. The consumable 200 may be a tobacco heating product(THP) article.

As used herein, the term “aerosol generating material” and“aerosolizable material” refer to material that provides volatilizedcomponents upon the application of energy (e.g., such as heating) in theform of an aerosol. In some embodiments, the aerosol generating materialmay comprise a tobacco component, wherein tobacco component is anymaterial comprising tobacco or derivatives thereof. The tobaccocomponent may comprise one or more of ground tobacco, tobacco fiber, cuttobacco, extruded tobacco, tobacco stem, reconstituted tobacco and/ortobacco extract. Other types of aerosolizable may include leaf material,herbal material or organoleptic substances as used in aromatherapy andthe like. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating substrate maycomprise a tobacco substitute.

The aerosol delivery device 100 in this example also has a cover 160.The cover 160 is moveable to cover the receptacle 110 when an article,such as consumable 200, is not present within receptacle 110. In otherexamples, the aerosol delivery device 100 may not include a cover 160.

The aerosol delivery device 100 also has a power button 150. In use,when the aerosol delivery device 100 is switched on using the powerbutton 150, power from a power source (such as a battery within thedevice 100) is supplied to various components of the device, e.g., inresponse to pressing the power button 150, power may flow to a heatersuch that the consumable 200 is heated and a flow of aerosol isgenerated from the consumable 200.

As illustrated in FIG. 2 , an example of an internal side view of theaerosol delivery device 100 of FIG. 1 is shown. The receptacle 110 ofthe aerosol delivery device 100 contains a consumable 200. Theconsumable 200 has a signal altering component 220.

The signal altering component 220 of the consumable 200 may be at leastone of: a shield; a susceptor; a conductor; a diffraction grating/arefractor, a signal reflector, and a polarizer. The signal alteringcomponent 220 may alter at least one of: signal strength (or intensity);signal polarization ; signal frequency; signal wavelength; and signaldirection. It should be appreciated that how the signal alteringcomponent 220 alters the signal (discussed below) will depend upon thespecific signal altering component 220 present in the consumable 200.

The aerosol delivery device 100 of the example has a transmitter 120 anda receiver 130 spaced apart from the transmitter 120. The aerosoldelivery device 100 also has device circuitry 140 coupled to thetransmitter 120 and the receiver 130. The device circuitry 140 maycomprise a processor.

The terms “transmitter” and “receiver” are used to refer to componentswhich can transmit and receive a signal in the general sense that asignal from the transmitter can be detected by the receiver. Thetransmitter 120 may transmit at least one of the following: an electricfield, a magnetic field, a radio frequency signal, an Infra-Red signal,a visible light signal, an Ultra-Violet signal, and an acoustic or sonicsignal. For example, the transmitter 120 may be an LED that transmitsvisible light, Infra-Red light and/or Ultra-Violet light, or a radiofrequency transmitter. In other examples, the transmitter 120 may be afield generator comprising a charge carrying wire (to generate amagnetic field) or a capacitor plate (to generate an electric field). Inother examples the transmitter 120 may be a transducer, for example atransducer for producing sound waves. The sound may be audible tohumans, for example having a frequency below about 20 kHz, or may beultrasonic, such as having a frequency above about 20 kHz. It should beappreciated that the type of transmitter 120 and receiver 130 areselected so as to be receptive to changes in the signal as affected bythe chosen signal altering component 220, or by one or more signalaltering components 220 present in a single, or over several,consumables 200.

In use, if the transmitter 120 generates an electric field or a magneticfield, a corresponding signal (a first signal) is generated in thereceiver. This first signal is a signal generated in the absence of asignal altering component 220. The generated signal can be measured, forexample by measuring a current flowing or the overall capacitancebetween the transmitter 120 and the receiver 130. The coupling of theelectric field or magnetic field to the receiver 130 is changed when aconsumable 200 with a signal altering component 220 is positionedbetween the transmitter 120 and receiver 130, in a receptacle 100 of theaerosol delivery device 100.

In one example, the dielectric constant between the plates of acapacitor formed by the transmitter 120 and receiver 130 is changed bythe signal altering component 220, and the particular capacitance, orchange in capacitance can be detected.

In another example the inductive coupling between the transmitter 120and receiver 130 is altered by the signal altering component, such as bychanging the magnetic permeability of the medium between the elements.The change in the coupling causes a change in the current induced in thereceiver 130 (a second signal) and this can be used to determineconsumable data.

Properties relating to the receiver 130, such as a current flowingthrough the receiver or a property of the received signal, may bemeasured for the second signal only (i.e., the first signal as alteredby the signal altering component 220), or may be measured both when thereceiver receives a first signal (i.e., when no consumable is present inthe chamber) and when the receiver receives the second signal. If boththe first signal and the second signal are measured by the receiver 130,the alteration in the properties relating to the receiver may bedetermined and associated consumable data derived from the alteration. Alook up table may be stored in a memory and used to determine consumabledata associated with the second signal or with the determinedalteration. In other implementations, a processor in the device 100 maybe configured to perform a similar comparison using the drive signal forthe transmitter 120 (which may be the same or at least corresponds tothe first signal) and the received signal (i.e., the second signal).

The receiver 130 may be at least one of an electric field receptor, amagnetic field receptor, such as a susceptor, a signal receptor (such asan RF receptor) and a sonic receptor. For example, the receiver may beat least one of a capacitor plate, a wire, such as a non-charge carryingwire, an antenna, and a microphone.

The dotted lines of FIG. 2 denote a communicative coupling between thetransmitter 120 and the device circuitry 140 and between the receiver130 and the device circuitry 140. The coupling may be wired or wireless.The device circuitry 140 is discussed in more detail in relation to FIG.3 below.

As depicted in FIG. 2 , in this example the transmitter 120 is locatedon one side of the receptacle 110 and the receiver 130 is on an oppositeside of the receptacle 110. The transmitter 120 and receiver 130 aredirectly opposite one another. In other examples, the transmitter andreceiver can be in different relative positions, but still spaced fromeach other. For example, the transmitter and receiver may be offset fromone another along an insertion axis of the consumable, while remainingbroadly on opposite sides of the receptacle 110. The transmitter 120 andreceiver 130 may be positioned so at least a portion of the receptacleis located between them, for example they may be radially offset fromone another, such as a radial offset around an insertion axis of theconsumable. A radial offset may mean that a first line normal to aninsertion axis and passing through the transmitter 120, and a secondline normal to the insertion axis and passing through the receiver forman angle about the insertion axis which is less than 180°.

In use, the transmitter 120 is configured to transmit a first signal,S1, at least partially through the consumable 200 in the receptacle 110to the receiver 130. The receiver 130 is configured to receive a secondsignal, S2. The second signal S2 is the first signal Si altered byinteraction with the signal altering component 220 of the consumable200.

The signal altering component 220 alters the first signal S1 in apredetermined manner specific to the signal altering component 220. Thealteration may be a modification of a physical characteristic of thefirst signal. For example, the alteration may be a change of at leastone of signal strength/intensity, signal frequency, signal wavelength,signal polarization, and signal direction. In some examples, thealteration may be dependent on the type/strength of signal S1. Acrossthe whole system, there may be a plurality of signal alteringcomponents, each configured in a different, pre-determined way, suchthat a particular one of the plurality of signal altering components canbe identified based on the second signal. For instance, differentconsumables 200 may be provided with different signal alteringcomponents such that the different consumables 200 can be distinguishedfrom one another on the basis of the alteration to the first signal.This may be implemented when, e.g., the different consumables comprisedifferent aerosolizable material (e.g., providing different flavors). Inthis way, the device 100 is configured to identify the consumableinserted into the receptacle, and the device 100 may alter an aspect ofits operation (such as a heating profile) on the basis of the identifiedconsumable. Example signal altering components will now be described.

In a first example, the signal altering component 220 may comprise apolarizer, such as a linear polarizer, that changes the polarization ofsignal S1 to a certain polarization, e.g., horizontally polarized, sothat signal S2 is, in this example, horizontally polarized. Signal S1may be generated at a single polarization, or at multiple polarizations,and the signal altering component 220 may be configured to change thepolarisation(s). A plurality of signal altering components may eachchange a polarization in a different way, for example vertical orhorizontal polarization. The specific type of polarizer used will bedependent upon the wavelength of the signal S1. The wavelength of signalS1 may be chosen in correspondence with the materials used in theconsumable 200 such that the signal S1 is able to penetrate through atleast a part of the consumable 200 but such that the signal S1 interactswith the polarizer.

In a second example, the signal altering component 220 may comprise acomponent that alters the direction of at least a part of the signal S1.For example, the signal altering component may be a diffraction grating,or a component that causes refraction of the signal S1. A diffractiongrating may change the direction of the first signal S1 by apredetermined amount, or to change the directions of differentcomponents of the first signal S1, which is detected by the receiver130. The change of direction may be measured by an increase or adecrease in the signal power of the second signal S2 detected at thereceiver 130 positioned at a known position relative to the transmitter120. The receiver 130 may also comprise a sensor array, such as animaging sensor, which is configured to sense a diffraction patternresulting from the signal passing through the diffraction grating. Thediffraction pattern can be measured by sensing the change in signalintensity over an area/plane (e.g., the area/plane of the sense surfaceof the receiver 130). A plurality of signal altering components may eachproduce a different diffraction pattern, and/or change the direction ofa signal by a different amount. The diffraction grating may have aregular or an irregular spacing (or combinations thereof) to createcertain intensity patterns. In the case of a signal altering componentthat causes refraction of the signal S1, the receiver 130 may be adaptedto sense a position at which the signal S2 is received on the receiver130 (again, the receiver may be a sensor array) or alternatively one ormore sensors of the sense array comprising the receiver 130 may bepositioned relative to the transmitter 120 by an expected amount ofrefraction for each of the different signal altering components 220.

In a third example, when the transmitter 120 transmits an electricfield, the signal altering component 220 may comprise a dielectricmaterial that changes the permittivity between the transmitter 120(transmitting an electric field) and the receiver 130. In one example,the dielectric material changes the capacitance between the transmitterand receiver. The dielectric material may, in this implementation,include the aerosolizable material and/or other materials of theconsumable 200. In other examples, the dielectric material is acomponent distinct from the aerosolizable material and/or othermaterials of the consumable. A plurality of signal altering componentsmay each result in a different effective capacitance between thetransmitter and the receiver, through the use of different materialsand/or dimensions of material

In a fourth example, the transmitter 120 may be an inductor or similarcomponent configured to generate a magnetic field, and the signalaltering component may comprise a ferrite or the like, to alter therelative permeability between the transmitter 120 and the receiver 130.A plurality of signal altering components may each result in differentlevels of inductive coupling between the transmitter and receiver,through the use of different ferrite materials and/or dimensions.

In a fifth example, the signal altering component 220 may comprise anattenuator, such as a shield, whereby the transparency of the signalaltering component 220 to the first signal S1 is predetermined. Theattenuator may be a radio frequency attenuator that attenuates the firstsignal S1 (which in this example is a radio frequency signal) by apredetermined amount. For example, the signal altering component 220 mayreduce the signal strength of the first signal S1 by one of thefollowing: 5 dB, 10 dB, and 20 dB. In another example, the attenuatormay attenuate a signal from an LED (transmitter) by a defined amount,such as reducing the intensity of signal by 25%, 50% or 75%. It shouldbe appreciated that these numerical values are given as examples onlyand different numerical values may be applicable in otherimplementations. A plurality of signal altering components may eachresult in different levels of attenuation, for example by the materialand dimensions of the signal altering component.

In a sixth example, the signal altering component 220 may be afluorescent material. In one example, the fluorescent material mayfluoresce at a lower frequency and/or lower energy than the stimulus,such as incident light. In another example, the fluorescent material mayfluoresce at a higher frequency than the stimulus. In one example, thefluorescent material may be such that it fluoresces at a visiblewavelength in response to incident ultra violet light. Accordingly, inthis example the signal altering component 220 receives the first signalS1 as ultra violet light and emits the second signal S2 as visiblelight, so the second signal S2 has a different wavelength (andfrequency) compared to the first signal S1. A plurality of signalaltering components may each result in different fluorescent responsesthrough material choices of the signal altering component, for examplechanging a wavelength of excitation or a wavelength of fluorescence. Anexample of a fluorescent material is pyranine. Any other suitablematerial exhibiting fluorescence may be used. In some examples, thefluorescent material is a food additive, which may be beneficial for thesafety of the user. Example food additives which exhibit fluorescenceinclude quinine and B2 riboflavin.

It should be appreciated that the above provides a non-exhaustive listof forms that the signal altering component 220 may take, and the signalaltering component 220 may be arranged to alter any othermeasurable/detectable parameter of a signal that passes through at leasta portion of the consumable 200. For instance, the signal alteringcomponent 220 may be chosen to alter the phase of the signal S1 by apredetermined amount by selecting an appropriate signal alteringcomponent 220 for the signal S1.

The signal altering component 220 may comprise at least two signalaltering elements as described above that alter a plurality of physicalcharacteristics of signal S1. This may allow a greater number of uniqueidentifying characteristics. For example, is a first signal alteringcomponent allows distinguishing between 4 values of first signalproperty, and a second signal altering component allows distinguishingbetween another 4 values of second signal property, in total 16 uniquecombinations can be created. The number of values may be different fromthis example, for example 32 values for each property would allow 1024unique combinations. Combining properties in this way may allow for agreater number of combinations with reduced transmitter and receivercost; although two properties are measured in the second signal, theoverall cost may be lower as a lower sensitivity of detection isrequired for each property than achieving the same number with only asingle property.

As mentioned above, the alteration to the first signal S1 by the signalaltering component 220 is a predetermined alteration specific to thesignal altering component 220. In addition, the device circuitry 140 isconfigured to determine article data, such as consumable data, from thesecond signal S2 received by the receiver 130. The specific alterationto the first signal by the signal altering component can be associatedwith consumable data, or the specific second signal itself can beassociated with consumable data.

The consumable data is at least one of: a type of consumable (forexample the type of aerosolizable material such as a gel, a fluid, aliquid, or a solid), a flavor or flavorant of the consumable (or of theaerosol able to be generated from the consumable), a strength of theactive (such as nicotine) released from the aerosolizable material, anidentifier of the consumable (for example a batch identifier, or anindividual identifier), and a source of the consumable (for example oneof more of a manufacturing facility, an assembly facility, a country, adate of manufacture, and a time of manufacture).

As an example, a signal alteration of an increase of signal wavelengthfrom ultra violet to visible light may be associated with a specificsignal altering component. In this example, the specific signal alteringcomponent may be associated with consumable data that identifies thatthe consumable is a gel type and is part of a particular batch sourcedfrom a particular manufacturing facility.

As a further example, a signal alteration of an increase in signalstrength of 10 dB at a radially offset receiver may indirectly indicatea change in signal direction away from the normal. This may beassociated with a different specific signal altering component andlinked to a particular consumable article.

The device 100 may determine the presence of the consumable 200 withinthe receptacle 110. The presence of the consumable 200 may be detectedusing the transmitter 120 and the receiver 130. The presence of an itemin the receptacle will alter the received signal in some way. However,only consumables with known, predetermined signal altering componentswill alter the signal in a predetermined way. Thus, transmitter andreceiver may operate in a first mode to detect a presence of aconsumable and a second mode in which a specific received signal isinterpreted to identify the signal altering component. Alternatively,the presence of the consumable 200 may be detected by an independentpresence sensor, such as a capacitive sensor located adjacent thereceptacle 110.

Referring now to FIG. 3 , an example functional block diagram of devicecircuitry of an aerosol delivery device, such as device circuitry 140 ofthe aerosol delivery device 100 of FIGS. 1 and 2 , is shown. As in FIG.2 , the device circuitry 140 is communicatively coupled to thetransmitter 120 and the receiver 130. The dotted lines between thecomponents indicate that the coupling may be wired or wireless.

In this example, the device circuitry 140 contains a processor 142, amemory 144, and a power source (not shown).

The processor 142 is configured to cause the transmitter 120 to transmita first signal, S1, at least partially through the consumable 200 in thereceptacle 110, to the receiver 130 so that the receiver 130 receives asecond signal, S2. As explained in relation to FIG. 2 , the secondsignal S2 is the first signal S1 altered by interaction with the signalaltering component 220 of the consumable 200. The processor 142 isconfigured to determine consumable data from the second signal S2. In anexample, the receiver 130 may send a signal representative of the secondsignal S2 to the processor 142.

As discussed in relation to FIG. 2 , the alteration to the first signalS1 is specific to the signal altering component 220. Different signalaltering components alter the first signal in different ways soidentification of a signal altering component (and associated consumabledata) can be based on a determined alteration to the first signal.

The memory 144 stores consumable data for a plurality of consumables andcorresponding signal altering data for a plurality of signal alteringcomponents. In other implementations, the device 100 may be coupled to acommunication network and the determination of the signal alteringcomponent may be performed remote from the device 100. Certain signalaltering components may be assigned to certain groups of consumables orindividual consumables. Identification of a signal altering component ofa consumable, through identification of a signal alteration made to thefirst signal, or directly from the second signal, enables determinationof consumable data of the consumable by looking up a predeterminedsignal alteration, or second signal, in the memory 144.

For example, signal altering data stored by the memory 144 may bepredetermined signal alterations produced by different signalalternating component configurations. The predetermined signalalterations may contain alterations stored in the memory 144 as afactory setting during manufacture. The memory 144 may also storereference signal data representative of a received signal when theconsumable 220 with the signal altering component 220 is not presentwithin the receptacle. In one example, the reference signal data maycorrespond to signal data associated with the first signal S1.

In use, to determine consumable data from the second signal, S2, theprocessor 142 may compare the first signal S1 to the second signal S2and determine the alteration of the first signal S1 by the signalaltering component 220. As an alternative, the processor 142 may comparethe second signal directly to a stored reference signal to determine thealteration by the signal altering component. The stored reference signalmay be a signal received by the receiver 130 when the consumable 220with the signal altering component is not present in the receptacle ofthe delivery device 100, or may be (or be based on) the drive signal forgenerating the first signal S1.

The processor 142 compares the determined alteration to a plurality ofpredetermined alterations stored by the memory 144. For example, theprocessor 142 may use a look-up table stored in the memory 144.

When the processor 142 identifies a match between the determinedalteration and one of the plurality of predetermined alterations, theprocessor 142 determines the consumable data based on the match. Forexample, if the determined alteration is an attenuation of signal powerof 5 dB, in use, the processor 142 compares the determined alteration of5 dB to a plurality of predetermined alterations, such as, 5 dB, 10 dB,and 12 dB. In this example, the plurality of predetermined alterationscontains 5 dB as a predetermined alteration, so the processor identifiesa match and determines consumable data associated with the predeterminedalteration of 5 dB.

The second signal may comprise an identifier of the signal alteringcomponent 220 and the memory 144 may store predetermined identifiers fordifferent signal altering components and corresponding consumable data.If a match is identified by the processor between the identifier of thesecond signal and one of the plurality of predetermined identifiers,consumable data associated with the matched predetermined identifier canbe determined.

Referring now to FIG. 4 , a flow chart of an example method 300 ofidentifying a consumable, such as consumable 200, in an aerosol deliverydevice is shown.

The method 300 comprises a first block 320 where a first signal S1 istransmitted at least partially through a consumable 200 from atransmitter 120 to a receiver 130 spaced from the transmitter 120, wherethe consumable 200 has a signal altering component 220.

After transmitting the first signal S1, the method 300 moves on to block340, where a second signal S2 is received at the receiver 130. Thesecond signal S2 is the first signal S1 altered by interaction with thesignal altering component 220 of the consumable 200.

Next, the method 300 proceeds to block 342, where the first signal S1 iscompared to the second signal S2. Following the comparison, at block344, the alteration applied to the first signal S1 is determined.

After determining the alteration, the method 300 moves on to block 346,where the determined alteration is compared to a plurality ofpredetermined alterations. The plurality of predetermined alterations isstored in the memory 144 of the device circuitry 140. The comparison atblock 346 may compare one or more of signal strength, signalpolarization, signal frequency, signal wavelength, and signal directionof the determined alteration to signal strength, signal polarization,signal frequency, signal wavelength, and signal direction of theplurality of predetermined alterations.

Next, at block 348 a query is made as to whether a match can beidentified between the determined alteration and one of the plurality ofpredetermined alterations. If no match is found, the method 300 ends, asshown by the no (N) branch. In some embodiments, if no match is found afeedback signal may be generated to notify a user of the aerosoldelivery device 100 that the consumable 200 is not recognized. This mayhelp to draw a user's attention to an incorrect or counterfeitconsumable, for example. The feedback signal could be a visual signal,an audible signal or a haptic signal, for example.

On the other hand, if a match is found, method 300 moves on to block360, where consumable data is determined based on the matchedalteration, as shown by the yes (Y) branch. The consumable data isstored in the memory 144 of the device circuitry 140.

The alteration of the first signal S1 by the signal altering component220 to generate a second signal S2 is specific to the signal alteringcomponent 220 of the consumable 200. In this way, identification of thealteration to the first signal S1 by comparing the first signal S1 andthe second signal S2, and subsequent matching of the identifiedalteration to a predetermined alteration enables identification of thesignal altering component 220 and subsequently, determination ofconsumable data of the consumable 200.

In some embodiments, if a match is found a feedback signal may begenerated to notify a user of the aerosol delivery device 100 that theconsumable 200 is recognized. The signal could be a visual signal, anaudible signal or a haptic signal.

Referring now to FIG. 5 , a flow chart of another example method 400 ofidentifying a consumable in an aerosol delivery device is shown. Method400 is similar to method 300, but rather than determining a signalalteration the second signal is used directly to determine consumabledata.

Method 400 comprises a first block 420, where a first signal S1 istransmitted at least partially through a consumable 200 from atransmitter 120 to a receiver 130 spaced from the transmitter 120, wherethe consumable 200 has a signal altering component 220.

After the first signal is transmitted, the method 400 moves to block440, where a second signal S2 is received at the receiver 130. Thesecond signal S2 is the first signal S1 altered by interaction with thesignal altering component 220 of the consumable 220.

Next, method 400 moves on to block 445, where the second signal S2 iscompared to a plurality of predetermined signals. The plurality ofpredetermined signals is stored in the memory 144 of the devicecircuitry 140. The comparing of block 445 may compare one or more ofsignal strength, signal polarization, signal frequency, and signaldirection of the second signal S2 to signal strength, signalpolarization, signal frequency and signal direction of the plurality ofpredetermined signals.

Following the comparison, method 400 moves on to block 448, where aquery is made as to whether a match can be identified between the secondsignal S2 and one of the plurality of predetermined signals. If no matchis found, the method 400 ends, as shown by the no (N) branch. In someembodiments, if no match is found a feedback signal may be generated tonotify a user of the aerosol delivery device 100 that the consumable 200is not recognized. The feedback signal may generate at least one ofaudio, visual or haptic feedback to the user.

On the other hand, if a match is found between the second signal S2 andone of the plurality of predetermined signals, method 400 moves on toblock 460, where consumable data is determined based on a matchedpredetermined signal, as shown by the yes (Y) branch.

Matching of the second signal S2 to a specific one of the plurality ofpredetermined signals is achievable because the signal alteringcomponent 220 is one of a plurality of predetermined signal alteringcomponents, where each signal altering component applies a specificalteration to the first signal S1. In this way, matching of the secondsignal S2 to a predetermined signal enables identification of the signalaltering component 220 and subsequently, determination of consumabledata of the consumable 200.

As an example, in use, the processor compares the signal power of thesecond signal to a plurality of predetermined signals having differentsignal powers. If the plurality of predetermined signals contains thesignal power of the second signal as a predetermined signal power, theprocessor identifies a match and determines consumable data associatedwith the predetermined signal power. The consumable data associated withthe signal power may indicate, as an example, that the flavor of theconsumable is peach and the manufacture date is 1 Jan. 2018.

In some examples the methods described above may be executed by aprocessing system. Such examples may comprise a non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium comprising a set of computer-readableinstructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor of anaerosol delivery device, cause the device to perform any of theabove-described methods, for example a method comprising: transmitting afirst signal at least partially through an article from a transmitter toa receiver spaced from the transmitter; receiving a second signal at thereceiver, wherein the second signal is the first signal altered byinteraction with a signal altering component of the article; anddetermining article data from the second signal.

As used herein, the terms “flavor ” and “flavorant ” refer to materialswhich, where local regulations permit, may be used to create a desiredtaste or aroma in a product for adult consumers. They may includeextracts (e.g., licorice, hydrangea, Japanese white bark magnolia leaf,chamomile, fenugreek, clove, menthol, Japanese mint, aniseed, cinnamon,herb, wintergreen, cherry, berry, peach, apple, Drambuie, bourbon,scotch, whiskey, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, cardamom, celery,cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, honey essence, roseoil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, cassia, caraway, cognac, jasmine,ylang-ylang, sage, fennel, piment, ginger, anise, coriander, coffee, ora mint oil from any species of the genus Mentha), flavor enhancers,bitterness receptor site blockers, sensorial receptor site activators orstimulators, sugars and/or sugar substitutes (e.g., sucralose,acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharine, cyclamates, lactose,sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol, or mannitol), and other additivessuch as charcoal, chlorophyll, minerals, botanicals, or breathfreshening agents. They may be imitation, synthetic or naturalingredients or blends thereof. They may be in any suitable form, forexample, oil, liquid, solid, or powder. For example, a liquid, oil, orother such fluid flavorant may be impregnated in a porous solid materialto impart flavor and/or other properties to that porous solid material.As such, the liquid or oil is a constituent of the solid material inwhich it is impregnated.

The above embodiments are to be understood as illustrative examples ofthe disclosure. Further embodiments of the disclosure are envisaged. Itis to be understood that any feature described in relation to any oneembodiment may be used alone, or in combination with other featuresdescribed, and may also be used in combination with one or more featuresof any other of the embodiments, or any combination of any other of theembodiments. Furthermore, equivalents and modifications not describedabove may also be employed without departing from the scope of theinvention, which is defined in the accompanying claims.

1. An article comprising: an aerosolizable material; and a signalaltering component, wherein the signal altering component is configuredto alter a first signal transmitted at least partially through thearticle into a second signal indicative of article data.
 2. The articleof claim 1, wherein the alteration to the first signal by the signalaltering component is specific to the signal altering component.
 3. Thearticle of claim 1, wherein the signal altering component is configuredto alter at least one of: signal strength; signal polarization; signalfrequency; signal wavelength; or signal direction.
 4. The article ofclaim 1, wherein the signal altering component comprises at least oneof: a shield; a conductor; a diffraction grating, a reflector, or apolarizer.